Both Hassocks first and Ladies teams might have finished their 2018-19 seasons, but there are still three fixtures left to be played at the Beacon in the first week of May involving the Under 23s and Under 18s.
Both sides are still in the hunt for the runners up spots in their respective leagues. For the Under 23s, they know that one point from their final two fixtures will secure second place in Southern Combination West Division behind Horsham YMCA who were crowned champions last week.
Their first opportunity to get said point comes on Thursday 2nd May when Arundel visit Mid Sussex. The Mullets put a serious dent in the Robins’ title challenge when the two sides met for the first time this season three weeks ago at Mill Road, with the hosts running out 4-0 winners through a Harry Russell brace and goals from Jack Kates and Patricio Gomes.
Nigel Pearce’s side will be looking to reverse that result and end their worst run of form of the season, having lost three consecutive games.
The first of those defeats came in the League Cup semi final against East Preston at the start of April and it is EP who will provide Hassocks’ final opponents of the season on Tuesday 7th May.
They are also the side who could overhaul the Robins in the race for the runners up spot, currently sitting three points behind. Two defeats for Hassocks and an eight goal swing would see EP pip the Robins to second.
Hassocks won 3-1 at the Lashmar in December thanks to a Max Willcox goal and a Matt Berridge double but EP gained their revenge when booking their cup final spot by running out 3-1 victors at Shoreham’s Middle Road. James Littlejohn notched the Robins’ consolation.
Two days after the visit of EP brings the curtain down on the Under 23s season, the Under 18s will play their final game in a play off to decide who finishes as runners up in the Central Division.
With Steyning Town, Upper Beeding and the Robins all finishing on 31 points and the league decreeing that positions can’t be decided by goal difference, the three were due to enter a round-robin play off.
Steyning however pulled out as they were unable to guarantee being able to field a side for two additional games at such late notice, leaving Hassocks and Beeding to face off on Thursday 9th May at the Beacon for second place in the division.
The last meeting between the two ended in a 1-1 draw at Beeding’s Memorial Playing Fields. Tristan Hayes got the Hassocks goal that day and he notched a brace in the September meeting at the Beacon as the Robins were 4-0 winners. Yahya Azizi scored the other.
All three of those games kick off at 7.45pm and entrance is free for the Under 18s. The Under 23 fixtures are priced at £3 adults.
